The main objective of this study was to characterise and document information on the current status, challenges, opportunities and options for the future management of forest plantations in Kenya. This study was undertaken in the context of the African Forest Forum’s work on “Rehabilitation of Public Forest Plantations” in the eastern and north-eastern African countries of Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Over the last 100 years, plantations of fast growing tree species have been established in various parts of the country to meet the demand for timber, pulp, and fuel for the growing economy, and to reduce pressure on Kenya’s remaining natural forests. Plantation forestry in Kenya takes place in state/gazetted forests, private industrial cum agricultural enterprises and on individual farms and outgrower schemes. The objective of the plantations, climatic factors and prevailing social-political and economic factors determine the species used and the management regimes to be adopted. This study was therefore designed to review the plantation forestry practices in all ecological zones of Kenya where plantations grow with a view to identifying the main challenges and constraints to plantation forestry on farms and in plantation schemes, and to propose potential means to address these constraints.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
African Forest Forum

Region
Africa

Biome
Tropical

Forest Type
Planted forest

Primary Designated Function
All